Rural Services Network

📢 Should where you’re born limit your potential? RSN Chief Executive, Kerry Booth explores the challenges facing young people in rural areas – and what must change to ensure everyone, everywhere, has the chance to succeed.
🔗Read the piece: bit.ly/3TC16TI

#SocialMobility #RuralProsperity

🏦 Rural bank closures are back in the spotlight. RSN Chief Exec Kerry Booth spoke to Sky News and MPs raised the issue in Parliament recently.

Access to cash, transport & digital exclusion are real concerns.

📣 How is your community being affected?

👉 rsnonline.org.uk/spotlight-on...

Thank you to our members who joined today’s RSN Member Induction & BT Digital Switchover event! We look forward to welcoming more at next week’s session.
#RuralCommunities #DigitalSwitchover #RSNEvents

Be inspired by Plunkett UK's Impact Report 2025 Read about the wide-ranging, life-changing impact that Plunkett makes and how we influence community businesses to have local impact in five key ways.

Be inspired by @plunkettuk.bsky.social's Impact Report 2025.

❓Did you know community businesses have, on average, a five-year survival rate of 99%. This is radically higher than the 39% survival rate of private small and medium enterprises over the same period.

⏩ plunkett.co.uk/be-inspired-...

🚀 Connectivity fuels economic opportunity. Mobile UK's latest report highlights key actions the UK must take to strengthen mobile networks—including for rural communities.

🔗Read More: www.rsnonline.org.uk/turning-connectivity-into-economic-opportunity

#Connectivity #EconomicGrowth #RuralProsperity

Infographic displaying CJS & RSN logos, titled Members. Text reads: Renewed for 2025-26 Rural Services Network. CJS is pleased to be a member of the Rural Service Partnership.

Living & working rurally brings its challenges. Many of the jobs that we advertise are in rural locations. Renewing our membership to the @rsnonline.bsky.social means we hear about developments in the rural sphere. Stick with us c-js.uk/44BJDle

Rural councils are under financial strain—rising costs, hidden deprivation, and stretched services. The Govt says funding reform is coming. RSN says: it must deliver for rural communities.

📢 Consultation opens in June.
📰 Read the update: bit.ly/4dozbzO

#FairFunding

🌿Mental health matters—wherever you live. @worcesteruni.bsky.social has secured £2.2m to launch a new Rural Mental Health Research Unit which will tackle mental health inequalities and improve support for rural areas. 🔗 bit.ly/43mctDX
#MentalHealth #RuralHealth #HealthInequality

What’s the real cost of doing nothing?

The latest report from The Health and Social Care Committee makes it clear—continuing to ignore England’s adult social care crisis comes at a huge financial and human cost.

➡️ rsnonline.org.uk/adult-social...

🏡 Affordable homes aren’t just a housing issue—they’re a business growth issue too!

New research from @canorth.bsky.social and NICRE reveals nearly half of rural businesses cite lack of affordable staff housing as a barrier to growth.➡️ bit.ly/3H2TOFw

#RuralEconomy #BusinessGrowth #Housing

🎭 The @ruraltouring.bsky.social 's flagship conference returns this June, bringing together artists, promoters, and industry leaders to celebrate rural touring and explore new ways of engaging audiences through immersive experiences & cultural diversity. More ⏩https://bit.ly/4mazpOT #RuralArts

Key voices came together at the Rural Housing Conference to tackle one of the countryside’s most urgent challenges.
➡️Read more: bit.ly/3H1usI7
📸 RSN Assistant Chief Executive Meets HRH The Princess Royal, Credit Matt Pereira Photography/ English Rural
#Housing #AffordableHousing

💚 Connecting people. Supporting independence. Strengthening rural communities. We love seeing the latest developments from @commcats.bsky.social Small Good Stuff – a directory helping people find and offer care in their local area.

📲 See what’s new: bit.ly/4k1xmuW

Thanks to our members who joined yesterday’s seminar on #RuralEconomy!

We heard powerful insights on rural innovation, local growth & community resilience from brilliant speakers across the sector.

Next up: #RuralTransport on 4 June — book now➡️ bit.ly/3EXEJ7w

🌿 New powers are on the horizon — but will every community, big and small, benefit?
Read more➡️www.rsnonline.org.uk/will-metro-mayors-deliver-for-the-countryside
#MetroMayors #FairPolicy #DeliveringForAll

Improving productivity in rural areas is not just about economic statistics—it’s about people.

➡️http://rsnonline.org.uk/rural-growth-must-power-national-renewal

#RuralEconomy #EconomicGrowth #Prosperity

🏘️Whether in a city, town or village—everyone deserves a safe, affordable home. In rural areas, families are waiting up to 20 years for a 3+ bed social home. Research by The National Housing Federation, Shelter and Crisis shows we need urgent action.➡️ bit.ly/4jfseTZ
#RuralHousing #Housing

A national crisis is affecting over 164,000 children in temporary accommodation. We must highlight the hidden rural impact behind the numbers.
➡️🔗http://rsnonline.org.uk/englands-homeless-children #RuralHomelessness #RuralPolicy #HiddenHomelessness

Unseen, Unhoused, Unacceptable: Housing First for Rural England Launching a groundbreaking new report on tackling the hidden crisis of rural homelessnessToday, I'm pleased to announce the launch of our new report, "Unseen, Unhoused, Unacceptable: Housing First f

🚨BREAKING: Rural homelessness has surged 40% in 5 years. @EnglishRural's new report shows how #HousingFirst can be adapted to tackle this hidden crisis. #RuralHousingFirst #RuralHomelessness
englishrural.org.uk/rural-housin...

🌍Beyond access to medical services, rural residents encounter challenges like poor digital connectivity, sparse public transport & economic barriers. All of which significantly impact health outcomes.

👉More: bit.ly/42tZK1I

#RuralHealth #RuralPolicy #WorldHealthDay2025

📣 We Are Recruiting! 📣 Bring along your expertise in numbers & commitment to rural communities to make a significant impact with our team.

𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 ➡https://bit.ly/4cebp91

Not for you? Share this and help us find the right candidate! #DriveChange #RuralImpact

Wonderful @nicolawriting.bsky.social column on rural libraries in the latest BBC Countryfile Magazine. They are "vital hubs that can be used in myriad ways and are key to vibrant and resilient, connected and empowered rural communities"

@rsnonline.bsky.social

🌟Join our Team!🌟

Are you meticulous with data & finances and passionate about supporting rural communities? Join us at RSN as a Data and Finance Administrative Support Officer!

Find out More ➡️ bit.ly/4cebp91

RSN Chief Executive, Kerry Booth joins the @unibirmingham.bsky.social’s Future Flight Social Insight podcast to explore how drones and eVTOLs could change our lives — especially in rural areas.

🔊Listen now: lnkd.in/eF-NA4y8

#FutureOfFlight #AviationInnovation #RuralInsights #RuralInnovation

📌The Rural Coalition is recruiting a new Chair to lead its work on rural policy & representation.

We need a strategic thinker and experienced advocate to continue our mission of championing rural voices in national decision-making.

➡️Apply: bit.ly/4c8lzIu by 25 Apr!

We held a fantastic session at our RSN member-exclusive seminar on #RuralCommunities today! Thank you Rural Media, ACRE & DEFRA speakers for their engaging discussions. Next Session on #RuralEconomy, coming up on Weds 30 April. Book now➡️ bit.ly/3Rj8xhA

Safeguarding Britain’s Social Resilience Maintaining terrestrial TV is essential to social resilience, particularly for those most at risk of digital exclusion.

📺A recent report by the Digital Poverty Alliance highlights why terrestrial #TV must be protected. It reaches 98% of #UK households, ensuring reliable access to information for millions who may struggle with digital alternatives.
More ➡️ shorturl.at/lqh5m
#DigitalInclusion #Connectivity

Announcing the Rural Housing Network Research Project: Exploring the Impact of Devolution on Affordable Rural Housing Delivery We are excited to announce that we are currently seeking a research partner for a new project commissioned by the Rural Housing Network (RHN) to explore the impact of devolution on the delivery of aff

📢 The Rural Housing Network (RHN) is looking for a research partner to explore how devolution impacts affordable rural housing. 🏡🌳 Interested in shaping housing policy for communities under 3,000? Submit your proposal by 7 April! More➡️ bit.ly/4kPsavt #RuralHousing #Opportunity #Research

There's a lot in the news about council tax hikes today. Here's the reality: Rural residents pay 20% more in Council Tax, while urban councils receive 40% more in Gov Funded Spending Power. It’s not just a rural issue—it’s about #fairfunding for all.📈#RuralFairFunding

🎉 It’s #VillageHallsWeek 2025 with ACRE. A week all about celebrating, encouraging & supporting volunteers who help make communities stronger. Let's recognise their hard work & inspire more people to get involved!
More: acre.org.uk/village-hall...
#Volunteers #Community